Post by Reese on Nov 30, 2011 23:01:19 GMT -5
Short Sword(Gladius):
The common sword in the high cities is the gladius, or short sword. This is usually carried across the body on a shoulder strap, but, when danger threatens, it is slung over the left shoulder if the Assassin or Warrior is right-handed. In this way, the weapon drawn, the sheath and belt are cast away, in order for there to be less for an enemy to grasp. Seizing a scabbard, fixed on a tight belt, could be used to throw a man off balance.
Quotes:
In the bundle, wrapped inside the tunic and cloak I found the shoulder belt, sheath and short sword of the Goreans. I took the blade from its sheath. It was well balanced, vicious, double-edged and about twenty to twenty-two inches in length. ---Outlaw of Gor, p 23
I supposed one of the reasons for the short blade was that it could clear the sheath a fraction of a second before a longer blade. Another advantage was that it could be moved with greater swiftness than a longer blade. The primary advantage I supposed was that it allowed the Gorean warrior to work close to his man. The brief reach of the blade tended to be more than compensated for by the rapidity with which it might be wielded and the ease with which it might work beneath the guard of a longer weapon. If the swordsman with a longer weapon could not finish the fight in the first thrust or two he was a dead man. ---Outlaw of Gor, page 23
I had again my sword, that wine-tempered blade of fine, double-edged Gorean steel, carried even at the siege of Ar, so long ago, with its scabbard ---Raiders of Gor, p 68
Sacramasax:
The Alar Gladius (Short Sword):
Quotes:
He also carried among his things the short stabbing sword, similar to the gladius, and doubtless related to it, called by his people the sacramasax. It is much more useful on foot, particularly in close combat. ---Mercenaries of Gor, p 66
Long Sword:
They come in different sizes and lengths, from the heavy sword of the Torvalslander, to the long and heavy blade of the Alars(Spatha), these fearsome weapons have blades from 36 to 50 inches in length and yhough designed to be used two handed, can be controlled by a large man with a single hand. These swords with thier longer blades are indeed fearsome weapons. Nowhere as quick as the short sword, the greater reach though would allow a fighter to stand beyond the range of the common shortsword. It also would have the ability to chew through a shield or knock aside a smaller blade.
Quotes:
He wore beneath his cloak yellow wool, and a great belt of glistening black, with a gold buckle, to which was attached a scabbard of oiled, black leather; in this scabbard was a sword, a sword of Torvaldsland, a long sword, with a jeweled pommel, with double guard. ---Marauders of Gor, p 172
I had seen such men fight before. Once the sheer weight of the attacker's blows had turned and driven, interposed, his opponent's sword half through the man's own neck. But I did not think the Forkbeard would weary. On his own ship he, not unoften, drew oar. He accepted the driving blows, like iron thunderbolts, on his own blade, turning them aside. But he struck little. Hilda, her hand before her mouth, eyes frightened, watched this war of two so mighty combatants. Too, of course, the weight of such blows, particularly with the long, heavy swords of Torvaldsland, take their toll from the striking arm, as well as the fending arm. ---Marauders of Gor
Scimitar
A curved sword with a medium blade 30 - 34 inches long, 1 1/2 - 2 inches wide. This sword was designed to slice an opponent as the wielder galloped by, hence the curve to the blade. Sometimes found with a partial second edge on the backside. Not the best weapon for hand-to-hand combat. Found amongst the Desert tribes on Gor.
Quotes
A very difficult weapons to use, the odd balance and curved blade make thrusting exceptionally complicated. Unpopular among Warriors generally; it is regarded as being too long and clumsy a weapon for the close, sharp combat; and too light and short to replace an Axe or Longsword.
I observed the scimitar. It was a wickedly curved blade. On such a blade, I knew, silk dropped, should the blade be moved, would fall parted to the floor. Even a light stroke of such a blade, falling across an arm, would drop through the flesh, leaving its incised record, a quarter of an inch deep, in the bone beneath. ---Tribesmen of Gor
Ibn Saran, scimitar poised, smiling. Then suddenly he cried, "Ho!" and leapt forward, the blade, in rapid, diagonal figure-eight strokes, backhand upswept, shallowly curved, blade turning, forehand descending, shallowly curved, tracing its razor pattern. His right, booted foot stamped forward, his body turned to the left, minimizing target, his head to the right, maximizing vision, his rear foot at right angles to the attack line, maximizing leverage, assuring balance. ---Tribesmen of Gor, p 120
Saber A thinner, lighter, longer and more delicate form of the Scimitar with lesser curve to its blade. Mentioned in Nomads of Gor.Again, like the scimitar and for the same reasons, a very difficult weapons to use.
Quotes:
I gather that the Wagon Peoples, if they wanted sabers or regarded them as valuable, would be able to acquire them, in spite of the fact that they have no metalworking of their own; there might be some attempt to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Wagon Peoples, but where there are gold and jewels, available merchants, in Ar and elsewhere, would see that they were manufactured and reached the southern plains. Most quivas, incidentally, are wrought in the smithies of Ar. The fact that the saber is not a common weapon of Wagon Peoples is a reflection of the style, nature and conditions of warfare to which they are accustomed, a matter of choice on their part rather than the result of either ignorance or technological limitation. ---Nomads of Gor, p 124
The common sword in the high cities is the gladius, or short sword. This is usually carried across the body on a shoulder strap, but, when danger threatens, it is slung over the left shoulder if the Assassin or Warrior is right-handed. In this way, the weapon drawn, the sheath and belt are cast away, in order for there to be less for an enemy to grasp. Seizing a scabbard, fixed on a tight belt, could be used to throw a man off balance.
Quotes:
In the bundle, wrapped inside the tunic and cloak I found the shoulder belt, sheath and short sword of the Goreans. I took the blade from its sheath. It was well balanced, vicious, double-edged and about twenty to twenty-two inches in length. ---Outlaw of Gor, p 23
I supposed one of the reasons for the short blade was that it could clear the sheath a fraction of a second before a longer blade. Another advantage was that it could be moved with greater swiftness than a longer blade. The primary advantage I supposed was that it allowed the Gorean warrior to work close to his man. The brief reach of the blade tended to be more than compensated for by the rapidity with which it might be wielded and the ease with which it might work beneath the guard of a longer weapon. If the swordsman with a longer weapon could not finish the fight in the first thrust or two he was a dead man. ---Outlaw of Gor, page 23
I had again my sword, that wine-tempered blade of fine, double-edged Gorean steel, carried even at the siege of Ar, so long ago, with its scabbard ---Raiders of Gor, p 68
Sacramasax:
The Alar Gladius (Short Sword):
Quotes:
He also carried among his things the short stabbing sword, similar to the gladius, and doubtless related to it, called by his people the sacramasax. It is much more useful on foot, particularly in close combat. ---Mercenaries of Gor, p 66
Long Sword:
They come in different sizes and lengths, from the heavy sword of the Torvalslander, to the long and heavy blade of the Alars(Spatha), these fearsome weapons have blades from 36 to 50 inches in length and yhough designed to be used two handed, can be controlled by a large man with a single hand. These swords with thier longer blades are indeed fearsome weapons. Nowhere as quick as the short sword, the greater reach though would allow a fighter to stand beyond the range of the common shortsword. It also would have the ability to chew through a shield or knock aside a smaller blade.
Quotes:
He wore beneath his cloak yellow wool, and a great belt of glistening black, with a gold buckle, to which was attached a scabbard of oiled, black leather; in this scabbard was a sword, a sword of Torvaldsland, a long sword, with a jeweled pommel, with double guard. ---Marauders of Gor, p 172
I had seen such men fight before. Once the sheer weight of the attacker's blows had turned and driven, interposed, his opponent's sword half through the man's own neck. But I did not think the Forkbeard would weary. On his own ship he, not unoften, drew oar. He accepted the driving blows, like iron thunderbolts, on his own blade, turning them aside. But he struck little. Hilda, her hand before her mouth, eyes frightened, watched this war of two so mighty combatants. Too, of course, the weight of such blows, particularly with the long, heavy swords of Torvaldsland, take their toll from the striking arm, as well as the fending arm. ---Marauders of Gor
Scimitar
A curved sword with a medium blade 30 - 34 inches long, 1 1/2 - 2 inches wide. This sword was designed to slice an opponent as the wielder galloped by, hence the curve to the blade. Sometimes found with a partial second edge on the backside. Not the best weapon for hand-to-hand combat. Found amongst the Desert tribes on Gor.
Quotes
A very difficult weapons to use, the odd balance and curved blade make thrusting exceptionally complicated. Unpopular among Warriors generally; it is regarded as being too long and clumsy a weapon for the close, sharp combat; and too light and short to replace an Axe or Longsword.
I observed the scimitar. It was a wickedly curved blade. On such a blade, I knew, silk dropped, should the blade be moved, would fall parted to the floor. Even a light stroke of such a blade, falling across an arm, would drop through the flesh, leaving its incised record, a quarter of an inch deep, in the bone beneath. ---Tribesmen of Gor
Ibn Saran, scimitar poised, smiling. Then suddenly he cried, "Ho!" and leapt forward, the blade, in rapid, diagonal figure-eight strokes, backhand upswept, shallowly curved, blade turning, forehand descending, shallowly curved, tracing its razor pattern. His right, booted foot stamped forward, his body turned to the left, minimizing target, his head to the right, maximizing vision, his rear foot at right angles to the attack line, maximizing leverage, assuring balance. ---Tribesmen of Gor, p 120
Saber A thinner, lighter, longer and more delicate form of the Scimitar with lesser curve to its blade. Mentioned in Nomads of Gor.Again, like the scimitar and for the same reasons, a very difficult weapons to use.
Quotes:
I gather that the Wagon Peoples, if they wanted sabers or regarded them as valuable, would be able to acquire them, in spite of the fact that they have no metalworking of their own; there might be some attempt to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Wagon Peoples, but where there are gold and jewels, available merchants, in Ar and elsewhere, would see that they were manufactured and reached the southern plains. Most quivas, incidentally, are wrought in the smithies of Ar. The fact that the saber is not a common weapon of Wagon Peoples is a reflection of the style, nature and conditions of warfare to which they are accustomed, a matter of choice on their part rather than the result of either ignorance or technological limitation. ---Nomads of Gor, p 124